Fastening device for picture-frames.



L. B. GIBSON. FASTENING DEVICE FOR PICTURE FRAMES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 26, 1911.

Patented Oct. 22, 1912.

LEMUEL GIBSON, 'OJE DES MOINES, IOWA.

msrnnme n-EvIcE on moronsremains.-

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 22, 1912.

Application filed August 26, 1911. Seriallt'o. 646,140.

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEMUEL E. Gfssorn.

' a citizen of the United States, residingat fastening device, so located and constructed Des Moines, in the county of Polk and Stateof Iowa, have invented a certain new and useful Fastening Device for Picture-Frames,

of which the following is a specification. I

My invention refers to fastening devices for securing onepicture frame to another,

in those cases where one frame fits into the back of another and the rear side ofthe outer frame extends rearwardly from it.

It is the object of my invention to provide a fastening device of very simple, durable and inexpensive construction for securing such picture frames together.

It is a further object to provide such a that said devicemay be adjusted'to vary the lateral or longitudinal relation of-the inner .and outer frames and to vary the tightness with which they are held together.

My invention consists in certain details,

in the construction, arrangement and. combination of the various parts of the device,

whereby the objects contemplated are at tained, as hereinafter more lly set forth,

pointed out in my claimand illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whicli Figure 1 shows a rear elevation of two picture frames equippedwith fastening devices embodying my invention. Fig. 2 shows a detail view of one of the catch members of my fastening devices. Fig. 3

shows a central, vertical, sectional view on v the line 4-4 of Fig. 1

My invention relates to fastening devices for securing picture fra es together where a small and inner frame'is placed against the back of a larger and outer frame.

Owing to the differences of the shapes of the molding commonly used when two frames are placed together as stated'above, the rear surfaces of the two frames are sometimes flush withreach other and sometimes the inner frame and at other times the outer 'frameextends rearwardly from the other.

In my application filed April 12, 1911,

Serial Number620,675, I have described a;

fastening device adapted to. adjustably secure the frames together when the inner frame extends rearwardly from the outer frame. It is my purpose by my inveninner frame.

my said former application which is adapted. for securing theframes together when the outer frame extends rearwardly past the In the accompanying drawings, I have used the reference numeral, to indicate a picture frame. A second frame 11 is placed with its face in the rabbet in the back of said first frame. In Figs. 1 and 3, I have shown the outer frame 10 extending rear- Wardly from the back of the inner frame '11.

In assembling my frame, I preferably put a glass 13 between the inner and outer frames and put the picture-14 in the'innerframe with the back 15 of matting or other I suitable material. I

' My improved fastening device for adjustably securing the inner and outer frames, consists of a plate 16 preferably of metal and rectangular in shape. The plate 16 is provided with a triangular extension 17 at right angles tothe plate 16, extending from one/end of said plate 1.6 to a point spaced apart from the otherend, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. v The extension, 17 is preferably in the form of a right angled triangle, but in any case the lower edge should form an in clined edge from the plate 16 downwardly. The plate lfi'issecured to the frame 10 by screws 18 or any other suitable means. A plate or strip 19is pivoted to the frame 11 near the plate 16 sothat its free end, in one positionof the movement of the plate 19 passes under the triangular extension 17 and holds'the frames 10 and 11 together. The

plate 19 is preferably provided with an exextension 17 varies depending on how far the frame 10 extends rearwardly past the to pass freely behind and under the extenframe '11. In order to permit the free 'end of the plate 19 and the extension 20 thereon sion 17, I cut at the proper point in the frame 10 a slot 22. The plate 19 is pivotally 4 secured to the frame 11 by means of a screw 23 or other suitable'means, and the said screw 23 is so located that theyplate 19 moves past center before engaging the extension 17. The reason "for the particular location of the screw 23 is that on account of such location when the extension 20 engages the inner side of the extension 17 the tendency is todraw the frames 10 and 11 together. The frames may be thus adjusted longitudinally or laterally as the case may placed in the proper position on the frame.

10 and the positions of the slots 22 are marked. The'plates 16 are then removed and the slots 22 are cut with their, lower edges approximately flush with the rear sur-.

faces of the inner frame 11. The plates 16 .are' then secured in position on opposite sides of the frame 10. The plate 19 is pivotally secured to the frame 10 in such a position that is swings past center before the extension 20 engages the extension 17. The

free ends-of the plates 19 are moved to.

i proper position to engage the-extension 17 and the frames 10 and 11 may then be adjusted with relation to each other by means of my improved fastening device, in the manner heretofore described.

My improved fastening device enables the picture 'framer to adj ustablysecure. his picture frames together so that they. may bev readily and easily taken apart for the purpose of cleaning the glass or the picture.

This isparticularly desirable where the two frames are used and the; glass and the picture are thereby spaced apart from each other. In preparing one frame to fit another, the inner frame frequently fails to fit snugly within the outer frame and where this'difiiculty occurs, the inner frame may be adjusted longitudinally or laterally, de-' pending on Whether the fastening devices are at, the ends of the frames or at the sides, by movingthe plate 19 on o ne end or side of the frames farther past center, than the .clearness, I have designated the plate '19 at the other end or side. In other words, assuming for illustration that the fastening devices are on the ends of'the' frames, then if the plate 19, at'one end of the frame, is secured in position at right angles to the plate- 16, with the. extension 20 engaging the inner side of the extension 17, then the plate 19 at the other end of the frame may be moved past its position at right, angles to the coacting plate 16, till the extension 20 on the last named 19 engages the coacting extension 17, and the i ner frame will be held' closerto the last thefirs named-e 'd thereof.

In the following claim for purposes of lates on ed end of the outer frame than to plate the inner and outer frames respectively as catch members.

I claim as my 1nvent1on:

The combination of an inner frame and an outer frame, the back'of'which receives the front of said inner frame, and extends rearwardly from said inner frame with a plurality of fastening devices on opposite sides of each frame, each of which is composed of a catch member, comprised'o'fa plate secured to the rearwardly extending surface of the outer frame, a triangular right angled extension on said plate adja cent to said inner frame, a second catchmember comprising a plate pivoted to said inner frame,-with its edge at its free end adapted to engage the inclined .faceof said triangular extension, said plate having at its free end a ri ht angledextension designed in one position of the movement of said last named plate to pass under and engage the triangular extension on said first catch member, said outer frame being slotted at the proper point to permit the free movement of said second catch member. Des Moines,-'IoWa, August- 19, 1911.

LEMUEL E. GIBSON.

I \Vitnesses:

- M. WALLACE, M. Pn'rnnson. 

